Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Genus · Hawfinches Family · Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
Observation tips Difficulty: HARD
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Forest deciduousOrchardUrban

Look for a 'front-heavy' bird with a massive bill and a short, white-tipped tail. In flight, they show a very broad, bold white wing-bar.

Hawfinch

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan29–33 cm
Weight48–70 g
Length16–18 cm
Lifespan wild2–12 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeCup
Clutch size4–6 eggs
Incubation11–14 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Granivore

🦗Insects
🥜Nuts
🍃Plants
🌻Seeds

Habitat

🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏡 Garden🍎 Orchard🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

The Hawfinch can generate a bite force of up to 50 Newtons — roughly the equivalent of a 5kg weight pressing on a single point. This is enough to crack open a cherry stone in seconds.

About

The Hawfinch is Europe's largest finch. It is a stocky bird of mature deciduous woodlands and large gardens. It is recognized by a massive, cone-shaped bill and a palette of orange-brown and grey plumage. It is a shy and elusive bird. It often spends its time high in the forest canopy in hornbeam or cherry trees.

Behaviour

The Hawfinch is a specialist seed-eater. Its massive jaw muscles allow it to crack open the pits of cherries and plums. Other birds cannot touch these seeds. They are quiet and secretive birds. Their song is a series of soft, clicking 'pix' notes. They are best observed in early spring before the leaves emerge.

Similar species

Eurasian Bullfinch
🐦
Eurasian Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Bohemian Waxwing
🐦
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
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